AUTHOR=Torrealba Fernando , Riveros Maria Eugenia , Contreras Marco , Valdes Jose Luis 

TITLE=Histamine and motivation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2012

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/systems-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2012.00051

DOI=10.3389/fnsys.2012.00051

ISSN=1662-5137

ABSTRACT=Brain histamine may influence a variety of different behavioral and physiological functions, but its responsibility in waking up has casted a long shadow on other important functions of this neurotransmitter. Here we review evidence indicating a central role of brain histamine in motivation, emphasizing its differential involvement in the appetitive and consummatory phases of motivated behaviors. We discuss the inputs that control the histaminergic neurons of the tuberomamillary nucleus of the hypothalamus, which determine the distinct role of these neurons in appetitive behavior, sleep/wake cycles and in food anticipatory activity. We review evidence supporting a dysfunction of histamine neurons and its cortical input in certain forms of decreased motivation (apathy). We finally discuss the relationship between the histamine system and drug addiction as a dysfunction of motivation.